Wake Forest students host 10th annual Chinese New Year Festival

January 7, 2009

Wake Forest University’s Asian Student Interest Association (ASIA) will host a celebration of the “Year of the Ox” at the 10th annual Chinese New Year Festival from noon to 3 p.m. Jan. 31 in Wake Forest’s Reynolds Gym, Room 201. The festival is a popular family event that has drawn more than 2,000 attendees annually. It features demonstrations, performances and hands-on activities that highlight various aspects of Chinese culture.

This year, the festival will feature a costumed giant panda that will greet attendees and be available for photographs. (The Chinese candy maker mentioned in the original release will be unable to attend.) Other festival activities will include translating names into Chinese; arts and crafts, such as making a clay ox; and traditional Chinese toys and games.

Special performances will be held from 2 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. The performances will kick off with the traditional Lion Dance, associated with bringing good luck. Folk dancing, yo-yo and martial arts demonstrations, a dance performed by Wake Forest students and a fashion show featuring costumes from various dynasties will be featured.

Chinese merchandise and authentic Chinese cuisine will also be available for sale.

Wake Forest’s festival was initiated by Cristina Yu, a Wake Forest librarian. It is sponsored by ASIA, Wake Forest’s Office of Multicultural Affairs and the Winston-Salem Chinese-American Association. The festival is also funded by the Office of Multicultural Affairs and Wake Forest’s student activity fee.

For more information about the festival, call (336) 758-5675.

Note to editors: This is a revised release to replace the one issued Dec. 15.